Panekire Bluffs

Track category

Time:

2 hr to 1 day return

Description

Panekire Bluffs

Panekire Bluff

Time: From the Redoubt Site in Lake Waikaremoana area short walks the track rises steadily up Panekire Bluff to the first trig (1 hour, one way). This is a moderate walk with magnificent views of the lake and mountains. The track continues less steeply along the ridge with various excellent viewpoints along the way, the grandest being Bald Knob at 1155 metres (3 hours one way).

Bald Knob is a few minutes off the main track and is not signposted, but is the obvious open area that has been burnt in the past. Two hours further on is Panekire Hut (bookings required for overnight use).

The forest on the mid-slopes of the Panekire Range is dominated by red beech and the forest floor is often a dry carpet of leaf litter. At higher altitude it merges into silver beech forest, rainfall and moist cloudy weather are more frequent and the trees and forest floor are clothed in many mosses and ferns. The ridge top forest of irregular trees takes on a mysterious “goblin-like” appearance in misty weather.

Getting there

The Onepoto Road, 10.3 km south-east of the visitor centre, leads to the start of the Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk and the access point to walk to the Panekire Bluffs.